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More could be labeled lobbyists

ATLANTA — House Speaker David Ralston says more people should be required to register as Statehouse lobbyists and disclose their spending.

Ralston said Thursday that Republican leaders will introduce legislation next week seeking to tighten rules on who must register as a lobbyist.

Right now, people seeking to influence lawmakers only need to register if they spend more than 10 percent of their working hours on lobbying, or if they spend more than $1,000 to promote or oppose legislation.

Ralston has also supported prohibiting lawmakers from accepting gifts from lobbyists. He had earlier said that lobbyists should be forced to disclose their spending, but had opposed limits on what lawmakers could accept.

The state Senate could vote as soon as Monday on a rule capping lobbyist gifts at $100.